Trill Symbiosis Commission to update host selection process

MAK’ALA, TRILL — High ranking officials in the Trill Ministry of Science and the Trill Symbiosis Commission announced plans to update the procedure used to evaluate potential hosts for joining.

“These changes, that shall be revealed in the upcoming weeks, will be implemented to improve upon a moderately effective, yet aging, process of selection,” said Dr. Karnan Sleyhn, head of the Trill Symbiosis Commission. “We are confident that with these alterations, the chances of a successful joining of a host and symbiote will rise.”

Although details regarding the specific changes to be made are few and far between, the Symbiosis Commission has confirmed that candidates will be required to undergo further examinations, tests, and courses of study in preparation for taking on a symbiont. This is in addition to an already stringent list of qualifications one must possess in order to be considered.

Both the academic achievement and character compatibility of a potential host receive intense scrutiny. The reason for this is twofold; because the ratio between symbionts ready to join and potential hosts is so unbalanced, the Symbiosis Commission must make certain that only the most qualified Trills are accepted every year. Secondly, while joining is a somewhat frequent operation, it is an exceptionally delicate one.

“Joining places an immense amount of stress on both host and symbiont. Even under the best of circumstances, the host is likely to display symptoms you might expect from an illness,” explained Dr. Rahgsi Needla, Chief Surgeon of the Symbiosis Commission and a specialist in joinings. “It is, for all intents and purposes, an invasion of the host.”

Passing through this physical gauntlet, however, is but the first challenge. A host that is unable to handle the extreme transition is a disaster for all involved. Due to this fact, years are spent to train potential hosts to handle the strain of joining. If the combining personalities are not able to function together, few options exist to correct the issues.

The plan to expand upon the already exhaustive examinations has been met with varied responses. Some Trill feel that such precautions are crucial to maintaining the health and safety of all involved, but many others are of the opinion that the new regulations make a previously herculean task all but impossible.

“I knew that this would be a difficult road to follow,” stated Ragdar Fel, a third-year psychology major at the University of Mak’ala. “But ‘difficult’ implies there is some hope of success. As it stands, I no longer feel that joining is a realistic possibility for me, or anyone, frankly. It’s like a dream crumbling to dust in my hands.”

About Flynn Dupond

Flynn Dupond is a foreign affairs reporter for the Federation News Service. With degrees in communication, journalism and language, Dupond has worked with the FNS for 17 years, charting the events on the outer territories. He lives on Starbase 118 with his daughter and their pet palukoo Fuzz.

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